On national TV, the Tucker-less, Alvarez-less Astros managed to put up enough runs to support another fine starting pitching performance by new Astro. Yusei Kikuchi. Kikuchi went four scoreless innings before giving up a three run homer in the fifth inning, but soon after back to back homers by the Astros in the seventh were enough to make the Astros winners yet again during Kikuchi-time.
It took a while for the Astros’ bats to get untracked, but the weak link mid/bottom of the order broke the scoreless tie in the fourth after the two and three hitters flied out.